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The BBC has defended its decision to include clips of Graham Norton wearing a red ribbon on the presenter’s 2013 compilation show – even though he was previously reprimanded by the corporation for doing so.

Norton ignored instructions not to wear the ribbon on his programme on 29 November to highlight last year’s World AIDS Day on 1 December.

All four guests on his show, fellow BBC Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson, Jo Brand, Colin Farrell and Sharon Osbourne – were allowed to wear the ribbons.

Last Friday, clips of Norton wearing the ribbon from his November show were included in a special 2013 compilation broadcast.

PinkNews asked the BBC why were the clips broadcast given its repeated claims that Norton broke its guidelines by highlighting World AIDS Day.

In response, a BBC spokesperson told PinkNews.co.uk: “A number of clips from the show throughout the series, deemed to be highlights, were broadcast in a ‘best of’ programme last week.”

The BBC previously sought to justify its decision to reprimand Norton by pointing to guideline 4.4.20, which states that the BBC “must remain independent and distanced from government initiatives, campaigners, charities and their agendas”.

However, PinkNews reported several cases of the corporation allowing its presenters to promote charitable campaigns – apparently in breach of 4.4.20.

PinkNews asked the BBC if re-broadcasting images of Norton wearing the red ribbon amounted to a fresh breach of its guidelines – the corporation refused to comment.

PinkNews covers religion, politics, entertainment, finance, and community news for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community in the UK and worldwide. Founded to produce broadsheet quality journalism for the LGBT community, we cover politics to theology in an intelligent manner.